Opinion

Having a statement or policy on youth work, however limited, has been a long time coming. Not since Positive for Youth have we had a definitive refresh of the government's approach to young people, and it looks like the ongoing influence of the youth voice movement, and youth services lobby, has been heard in some quarters.

The education committee's report on exclusions and alternative provisions makes it abundantly clear that the current system is failing some children, and that rising exclusion rates are a reflection of this.

Between the spectacle of President Trump's visit and the drama of Brexit, it would have been easy to miss the report from the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) on the lessons for politicians and public service commissioners following the collapse of Carillion.

When the government announced its review of children in need, a legal definition of children supported by social care who have safeguarding and welfare needs, we hoped it would have a wide remit and seek to understand how well these children's needs are being met.

Looking for silver linings to come out of a disaster such as Grenfell Tower would be churlish. However, the way community groups and charities have responded to the tragedy, which claimed 71 lives, 19 of them children, on 14 June last year, is an example of what can be achieved when organisations work in collaboration.